AtL Lancaster Stormers

Fritz, Le Croy Take Lancaster To Sixth Straight

Published on September 10, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Matt LeCroy went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBI, and Ben Fritz fired his fifth straight quality start as the Lancaster Barnstormers took their sixth straight win, 11-7, over the Camden Riversharks Wednesday evening at Campbell's Field.

The Barnstormers stayed four games behind York in the Freedom Division but pulled even with second place Newark in the loss column.

Fritz (3-0) allowed a pair of two-out runs in the first. With Nic Jackson already aboard on a walk, Ron Davenport ripped a double into the right field corner to plate the run. Davenport, in turn, scored on a line drive single to center by Tyler Von Schell. Mike Thompson singled to left, but Fritz struck out Bobby Gandolfo to end the inning.

The former first round draft choice allowed only three more baserunners in his seven-inning stint in throwing his fifth consecutive quality start. Overall, Fritz yielded six hits and three runs while walking one and striking out a season-high nine.

Lancaster, which had scored on unearned run in the first on a double by Mike Woods and an error, tied the game in the second. Lloyd Turner singled to center, advanced on a bunt by Ryan Stevenson, and scored when David Castillo lined a base hit into right field.

Woods got the third underway with a ground single to the hole at shortstop, and he took second when Tim Johnson kicked the ball toward the left field line. Gary Harris doubled to left center for a 3-2 lead, and he scored when LeCroy grounded a single through the hole on the right side. LeCroy took second when the throw home from Davenport eluded catcher Cody Collet. Bryan Sabatella reached on an error by the third baseman Thompson with one out in the inning. Turner doubled inside the third base bag, scoring LeCroy for a 5-2 lead, and Sabatella came home on a ground ball by Stevenson.

The Barnstormers strung together six singles in the fourth to build a 10-2 lead. Mike Caruso opened the inning with a bloop single to left and was forced at second by Woods, who then stole second. Harris lined out, but LeCroy again singled to right driving in a run. Ian Bladergroen followed with a single to left. Sabatella, Turner and Stevenson all delivered RBI singles.

LeCroy's homer leading off the ninth seemed insignificant, but Camden scored four one-out runs in the bottom of the ninth to draw closer before Coby Mavroulis retired L.J. Biernbaum and Davenport on ground balls to end the game.

NOTES: For the second consecutive night, every Barnstormer in the lineup had a base hit...Woods has hit safely in 14 straight games...He scored three times and now has 108 runs for the season...He also tied the franchise record with his 32nd double...Sabatella has hit safely in 12 straight, LeCroy 11 and Caruso eight...Lancaster will seek to tie the franchise record win streak on Thursday night...Erik Dessau (0-2) will make the start for Lancaster against Kevin Mannix (3-11)...Game time is 7:05.

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Atlantic League Stories from September 10, 2008


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